NEWS IN BRIEF

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2245, 1 March 1921, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

China has the shortest mile--609 yards. Asbestos was known to the Romans 2,000 years ago. The span of a frigate bird’s wing from tip to tip is about Bft. After midgets, fat people are the most popular “shows” in Britain. France’s birthrate is about 8 per 1,000. population, against Germany’s 20. The total strength of the British Army all over the world is given us 295,000. Japan has appropriated £40,000,000 for the construction of new railway lines. “Classes” for the newly-appoint-ed women magistrates have been held in London. Smokeless coal being made compulsory is stated to he the only euro for London’s fogs. The great dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, is supported by eight underground piers. Chorus girls in New York are paid up to ns much as £2O a week, according to their good looks. Parrots could probably live to the age of 100 years if placed under natural or favourable conditions.

The mining industries of Belgium arc now employing more people than they did in June, 1913. Over 700 gardeners are already employed in tending our soldiers graves in France and Belgium. Eight Canadian memorial monuments are to be .erected on the battlefields of France and Belgium.

A copy of the first edition of "Don Quixote” recently realised £2,000 in a London auction room. Schoolchildren in London, to Iho number of 17,570, receive free meals, at a weekly cost of £.1,490. It is proposed to establish a special Stock Exchange in New York exclusively for the use- of negroes. Customs officials at Philadelphia used hatpins to probe imported Christmas puddings for' smuggled jewels. Guernsey recently decided to use British money only in future. French has'hitherto been also current. *

During the Great War, 8,883 D.S.O.’s, 36,730 M.C.’s, 24.420 D.C.M.’s, and 114,529 M.M.’s were a wanted.

Purchasing a second-hand book in Farringdon Street, London, a man found written inside the name of his sister.

The most powerful artificial light in the world is thafof the lighthouse on Heligoland, which is of 40,000,OOft' candle-power.